Background: Ultrasonography is a non-invasive method of diagnosing periapical lesions while radiologic methods are more common. Periapical lesions due to endodontic infection are one of the most common causes of periapical radiolucency that need to be distinguished to help determine the course of treatment. This review aimed to examine the accuracy of ultrasound and compare it to radiographs in distinguishing these lesions in vivo. Methods: This review process followed the PRISMA guidelines. A literature search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science) was conducted without any restrictions on time. Articles available in English were included. The selection was done according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Results: The search provided a total of 87 articles, out of which, five were selected for the final review. In all the studies, ultrasound had higher accuracy in distinguishing periapical lesions. All the studies indicated a risk of bias, especially in patient selection. Conclusion: Within limitations, the study indicates that ultrasound is a better diagnostic tool to distinguish periapical lesions compared to radiographs but further studies with well-designed, rigorous protocols and low risk of bias are needed to provide stronger evidence.

The term “Liver disease” refers to a broad category of disorders affecting the liver. There are a variety of common liver ailments, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Accurate and early diagnosis is an emergent demand for the prediction and diagnosis of liver disease. Conventional diagnostic techniques, such as radiological, CT scan, and liver function tests, are often time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies in several cases. An application of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques is an efficient approach to diagnosing diseases in a wide range of medical fields. This type of machine-related learning can handle various tasks, such as image recognition, analysis, and classification, because it helps train large datasets and learns to identify patterns that might not be perceived by humans. This paper is presented here with an evaluation of the performance of various DL models on the estimation and subtyping of liver ailment and prognosis. In this manuscript, we propose a novel approach, termed CNN+LSTM, which is an integration of convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. The results of the study prove that ML and DL can be used to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of liver disease. The CNN+LSTM model achieves a better accuracy of 98.73% compared to other models such as CNN, Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), and LSTM. The incorporation of the proposed CNN+LSTM model has better results in terms of accuracy (98.73%), precision (99%), recall (98%), F1 score (98%), and AUC (Area Under the Curve)-ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) (99%), respectively. The use of the CNN+LSTM model shows robustness in predicting the liver ailment with an accurate diagnosis and prognosis.

Background: The use of ultrasound-based measurements to determine renal size has proven valuable in the diagnosis of renal function and associated disorders. The dimensions of the abdominal organs are affected by an individual’s body age, height, sex, and weight. The objective of this study was to establish the standard sonographic parameters for renal dimensions and to determine the correlation between body measurements and renal dimensions in a population of healthy adults residing in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The present study was a prospective study conducted at a single center located in Jazan City from February to August 2022. Ninety-five participants underwent abdominal ultrasonography. The process of measuring renal size through sonography entails the measurement of various dimensions of the kidney, such as renal length, width, and thickness. The demographic information of the participants, including their sex, age, height, and weight, was documented. All analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v27 software. Results: The dimensions of the right kidney, specifically the length, width, and thickness, had mean value of 9.79 centimeters (cm), 5.09 cm, and 4.10 cm, respectively. The left kidney had mean dimensions of 10.1 cm, 5.09 cm, and 4.10 cm for length, width, and thickness, respectively. The left kidney was larger than the right kidney. Furthermore, male participants exhibited larger kidney measurements than their female counterparts did. A noteworthy positive correlation was observed between the thickness of the left kidney and sex, whereas no significant correlations were found with age, weight, or height. Conclusion: The current study revealed that the kidney dimensions were observed to be larger in males as compared to females. The research findings indicate that there is no significant correlation between kidney dimensions and various demographic factors, such as age, height, weight, and sex. In addition, this study provides reference tables for further use.

Background: Admission to medical school is competitive, and different countries use various tests in addition to high school grades to minimize selection bias. A few studies have been conducted to evaluate the usefulness of these tests as predictors for students’ academic performance. In this article, we aimed to assess factors that influenced students’ grades in medical school. Methods: A cross-sectional study included all students who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Jazan University between 2018 and 2020. Scores of the included participants were extracted from the registry of Jazan University, and additional questions about study habits were completed by the included students. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed for the factors that impacted academic performance. Results: There were 331 included candidates, and the majority of them were female (53%). About 60% of the participants were medical residents at the time of the study, and 40% were interns. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that grades in high school and the pre-requisite tests were positively associated with students’ academic performance. Further, studying more than two hours per day was positively correlated with better grades in medical school. Conclusion: Scores of the admission tests can serve as predictors for student performance in medical school. National studies are deemed essential to evaluate additional admission tests for medical school, an action that would minimize selection bias.

Bariatric surgery is performed for accomplishing weight loss, which can save patients from diseases associated with morbid obesity. However, rapid weight loss is one of the most important risk factors contributing to the formation of gallbladder stones. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of gallstone formation among patients in the southern region of Saudi Arabia who underwent bariatric surgery and to evaluate the association between several parameters and gallstone development in these patients. A retrospective study was conducted including 57 patients who did not have gallstones in the preoperative abdominal ultrasound examinations. Demographic data, such as age and gender, were obtained along with other parameters like weight loss after surgery, and time elapsed between the surgery to post-surgery US examination. The findings of the US examinations were collected and analyzed. Data were analyzed to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics. A correlation matrix to investigate the dependence between variables was conducted. Patients in this study underwent either sleeve gastrectomy (87.7% [n = 50]) or gastric banding procedures (12.3% [n = 7]). The occurrence of cholecystectomy was 46% after sleeve gastrectomy and 71.1% after gastric band procedures. The majority of the patients (57.9%) lost weight after surgery in the range of 20 to 40 kg. The time elapses between the surgery to post-surgery ultrasonography examination varied among patients, where less than one year, one to three years, and three to six years accounted for 47.4%, 43.9%, and 8.8%, respectively. Gallstone formation after the surgery was found in 35 (61.4%) of the total cases. Among patients who developed gallbladder stones after bariatric surgery, 62.9%, 28.4%, and 8.6% were within less than one year, one to three years, and three to six years, respectively. The results suggest a statistically significant correlation between gallstone formation and​​​ the time elapsed after the surgery (P = 0.008) and the type of bariatric surgery (P = 0.006). The current study found that the overall incidence rate of gallbladder stones after bariatric surgery is 61.4%. The study assumed a possible higher incidence of gallbladder stones following bariatric surgery among the population in the southern region of Saudi Arabia compared to incidence rates reported in the literature. The type of bariatric surgery and the time elapsed after the surgery were found to be of value in predicting the formation of gallstones.

Background: Breast cancer represents a significant global health challenge, with Saudi Arabia experiencing high incidence rates, particularly among females. Early detection through screening methods such as mammography and breast self-examination offers promise in reducing mortality rates. However, participation in screening remains suboptimal, posing a barrier to effective cancer control. In regions like Jazan, situated in southwestern Saudi Arabia, comprehensive studies on breast cancer awareness and screening practices are lacking. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, aimed to comprehensively assess breast cancer awareness, perceptions, and screening practices among the local population. An online survey platform was utilized to reach individuals aged 18 years or older residing in Jazan. Recruitment efforts utilized social media platforms, community networks, and local organizations to ensure diverse representation across socioeconomic backgrounds, education levels, and geographical locations. A meticulously designed questionnaire captured demographic information, breast cancer awareness, knowledge, health-seeking behaviors, screening practices, and barriers to mammogram screening. Participants provided electronic informed consent before self-administering the questionnaire. Results: The study conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, encompassed 533 participants, predominantly young to middle-aged individuals. Most participants were Saudi nationals (97.6%), employed in the government sector (55.7%), and resided in urban areas (61.0%). Awareness of breast cancer was high, with 98.1% having heard of the disease. However, perceptions of age of onset and prevalence varied. While participants showed varied awareness of breast cancer warning signs and risk factors, family history was a commonly agreed-upon risk factor (54.4%). Health-seeking behavior for breast cancer symptoms varied, with nipple changes prompting the most immediate medical attention (36.4%). Although most participants were aware of self-breast examination (84.6%) and mammograms (56.7%), utilization rates were suboptimal, with barriers including fear (79.7%) and embarrassment (71.5%) hindering mammogram screening uptake. Conclusion: This study provides insights into breast cancer awareness and screening practices among participants in Saudi Arabia. While awareness of breast self-examination and mammography is high, disparities in screening service access persist due to barriers like fear and embarrassment. Addressing these barriers through culturally sensitive interventions and collaborative efforts is crucial for enhancing screening uptake and promoting health equity.